Trent Lott: “I speak, I am sure, for the entire Senate in extending congratulations to Senator Thurmond, a great Senator from South…”

“I speak, I am sure, for the entire Senate in extending congratulations to Senator Thurmond, a great Senator from South Carolina, for having just cast his 15,000th vote in this Chamber. An occasion like this reminds us of the continuity and the stability which the framers of the Constitution sought to establish in the Senate. I am sure that they had Senator Strom Thurmond in mind when they sought that. In the person of Senator Thurmond their intent was most notably fulfilled. I am sure that if our distinguished President pro tempore were to ask which of those 15,000 votes he considers his most important, he would probably respond, even though I am sure he was proud of the vote he just cast, that the most important one is the next vote, for Strom always looks ahead. Today, we join him in looking ahead, not recounting the tremendous record that he sets with this vote and all the votes of the past but, rather, counting on his future votes for what is good and right for the country he has served so long. Madam President, this is a milestone. This is a magnificent gentleman who brings tremendous credit to his constituency, his State, to the U.S. Senate, and to America. I am very proud to call him a colleague and to commend him for this 15,000th vote he has just cast.”